GAA19CA246

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 182 · Marion, IN · May 5, 2019

Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
May 5, 2019, 17:12 local (21:12 UTC)
Place
Marion, IN
Injuries
2 minor, 2 uninjured
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N96974Cessna 182
Defining event
Approach-VFR go-around: Aerodynamic stall/spin
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report March 3, 2020
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
General Aviation Accidents
Parties
FAA
FAA report
20190505003969A
Case key
99384

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's improper trim setting and his exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during a go-around, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

Findings · 3

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Performance/control parameters: angle of attackAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceededCessna 182Q: 4 casesAll aircraft: 990 casesProbable cause
Flight control system: elevator tab control systemAircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operationCessna 182Q: 1 caseAll aircraft: 37 casesProbable cause
Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotCessna 182Q: 34 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The pilot reported that, during landing, the airplane landed hard and bounced. He decided to go around, so he added full power, but the nose pitched up sharply. He added that he attempted to lower the nose, but the airspeed decreased, and the airplane "lost lift on [the] right side." He pushed forward on the control yoke, but the airplane drifted right, the right wing aerodynamically stalled, and the airplane impacted the ground next to a taxiway and spun around. A passenger saw a fire in front of the firewall, and all occupants exited the airplane. The airplane was destroyed by postaccident fire. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector reported that the pilot stated he used nose-up trim during the approach. The pilot also stated that, during the go-around, he attempted to use the electric trim to trim nose down. When the airplane nosed up, the pilot attempted to lower the nose but hesitated due to the airplane being near the ground, and he retracted the flaps. The FAA inspector examined the airplane and found that the trim setting was "just short of full nose up trim."

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that, during landing, the airplane landed hard and bounced. He decided to go around, so he added full power, but the nose pitched up sharply. He attempted to lower the nose, but the airspeed decreased and he "lost lift on [the] right side". He pushed forward on the control yoke, but the airplane drifted right, the right wing aerodynamically stalled, the airplane impacted the ground next to a taxiway, and spun around. A passenger observed a fire in front of the firewall and all occupants exited the airplane. The airplane was consumed by a postaccident fire and was destroyed. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector reported that the pilot stated he used nose up trim during approach. The pilot added to the FAA inspector that, during the go around, he attempted to use the electric trim to trim nose down. When the airplane nosed up, the pilot attempted to lower the nose, but hesitated due to the close ground proximity and he retracted the flaps. The FAA inspector examined the airplane and observed that the trim setting was "just short of full nose up trim." The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Aircraft

Registration
N96974
Reported as
Cessna 182 (Q)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
18266920
Built
1979
Airframe hours
3,073.2
Engine
Continental O-470 SERIES, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Fire
On-Ground
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · June 29, 2018
Departed
RCR · Rochester, IN
Destination
MZZ · Marion, IN
Airport
MZZ · Marion Muni, runway 04, 6,011 × 100 ft, asphalt
Equipment
Unknown

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
56
Injuries
Minor
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
BasicMed
Last flight review
September 20, 2018
Seat
Left
Restraint
3-point
Flight hours
1,880 total · 1,840 in this make and model · 1,800 as pilot in command · 7 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Calm
Visibility
7 statute miles
Temperature
68 °F, dew point 48 °F
Altimeter
29.87 inHg
Observed at
KMZZ

Docket · 3

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 23, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.6 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.